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South America is a backpacker's paradise: The entire continent is packed with gorgeous natural scenery, tasty cuisine, fascinating culture and adventures waiting around every corner. In general, it's nowhere near as expensive as Europe, and there's so much to see and do that it can be tough to know how to fit everything in. Best of all, it's also easy and fun to get around; in fact, the journey from country to country is one of the best parts about travel in South America.

Get Around by Bus

Renting a car to get around in South America isn't really an option since most car rental agencies don't allow their cars to be taken across international borders, and there's no reliable international train service. Buses are by far the most common way to travel around, regardless of which country you're headed to. The roads aren't always in the best condition, but there's a vast network of bus lines snaking across the continent. This is also a fabulous way to see the countryside and parts of countries that you wouldn't normally have a chance to see. To book bus fare, simply buy tickets in each city that you travel to; there are always multiple companies to choose from and several routes and times throughout each day.

Pro tip: Be sure to bring an offline activity to keep you occupied during WiFi-less bus journeys, particularly on all-night rides. This is a great time to leaf through your language dictionary and practice your Spanish, to catch up on your reading or to write in your journal.

Book a Flight

If you're pressed for time and want to explore a huge chunk of South America, flying is usually the best way to go. Just note that, although international flights within the continent are bound to be much more expensive than bus travel, budget airlines do exist in most countries. Try using a flight aggregator like Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the best deals on low-cost carriers. LAN offers the most comprehensive service; other than flying to major cities in Peru and Chile, the airline offers routes between Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. You could also consider getting a South America air pass. Air passes are special fare programs that allow for travel between multiple cities at discounted rates. Keep in mind that this isn't always necessarily the most affordable option. Doing a lot of research before purchasing an air pass is wise.

However you opt to get around this magical land, take it slow and don't rush around too much. South America is best explored in the slow lane, enjoying off-the-beaten-path destinations and truly getting to know the people and places that make this continent so special.

References

About the Author

Justine Harrington is a freelance travel journalist (and lifelong wanderer) based in Austin, Texas. Her essays, profiles, and destination guides have appeared in Fodor's, Forbes Travel Guide, Backpacker, Scandinavian Traveler, Frommer's, The Austin-American Statesman, Austin Monthly, Misadventures Magazine, and many others. She has bachelor's degrees in French and anthropology, and has held nearly every travel-related job imaginable, from study abroad program director in France to ESL educator in Ecuador. To find out more, visit www.justineharrington.com.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.